Overview
- TipRanks reports that Microsoft could announce 11,000–22,000 layoffs in the third week of January, potentially spanning multiple divisions including Xbox.
- Anonymous worker accounts cited in coverage suggest the Azure cloud team may be among the groups affected.
- TipRanks also describes a stricter return‑to‑office rule starting February 23, requiring at least three on‑site days for employees living within 50 miles of a Microsoft office.
- The layoff and policy details remain unconfirmed with limited corroboration, following several workforce reductions since 2023 across gaming, cloud, and corporate teams.
- Coverage links the prospective cuts to escalating AI and data‑center spending, with analysts estimating roughly 10,000 annual reductions to offset depreciation and prior reports noting plans for $80 billion in infrastructure investment.